388 Modern Dogs. 



wide, the nostrils open, and its end moist and cool ; 

 teeth level, and neither overshot nor undershot. 



The skull, ears, and eyes. Skull bone wide 

 and flat at the top, with slight furrow down the 

 middle. Brow by no means pronounced, but the 

 skull is not absolutely in a straight line with the 

 nose. The ears must be small, lie close to the 

 head, and set on low, but not hanging down in 

 hound fashion. With regard to the hair on them, 

 it must be short. The eyes should be of medium 

 size, dark in colour, bright, intelligent-looking, and 

 mild in expression, indicating a good temper. 



Neck, loins, and back. Whatever be the breed 

 of dog, his neck should be long enough to 

 allow him to stoop in seeking for the trail. 

 A chumpy neck is especially bad ; for, while 

 a little dog may get along on a foot scent with a 

 short neck, a comparatively large and unwieldy dog 

 tries himself terribly by the necessity for crouching 

 in his fast pace. Loins and back wide, deep, and 

 strong. 



The quarters and stifles must be muscular, 

 and so formed to enable the retriever to do 

 his work fast enough to please the modern sports- 

 man, with ease to himself; the stifles should be 

 nicely turned. 



The shoulders should be long and sloping ; 



